South America

Traveling around the world does not have to be for just those with lots of money and/or those who have retired from the workforce.

Whether you have minimal monetary means and/or you work, you can still set aside money over time to make some trips around the globe.

That said it oftentimes comes down to some good handling of your finances, mapping out where you want to go in plenty of time, and making sure you have all your paperwork ready to roll (passport, visa, emergency contacts etc.).

So, where will your world ventures take you?

Seeing the Globe without Going Broke

While it may seem at times like jetting or cruising around the world is nothing short of a pipe dream, you can do it if you really put your mind to it.

For starters, where do you want to go?

Yes, some places have been in the news as of late for good things, others not so good.

Among the venues getting a lot of attention in recent weeks is Brazil.

With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, countless people have flocked to this South American country of more than 200 million people, taking part in the world’s largest gathering of athletes.

In the event a Brazil vacation or other parts of the world are on your mind, here are a few things to follow up on:

Time of the year – If you are thinking a visit from the U.S. to Brazil is in order; remember that the weather is the opposite of that in the United States. Summer in the U.S. is wintertime in South America and vice-versa. While Brazil typically doesn’t experience the brutally cold weather America’s northeast and Midwest spots can get in wintertime here, the warmest months to journey to Brazil would be from around December to February. If you go in February, you have a week of festival time with the famed Brazilian Carnival. Given all the limelight Rio has gotten in recent weeks, it is sure to remain a hotspot for visitors to South America;

Local conditions – Unfortunately, some parts of the world continue to be in chaos due to political upheaval and other issues. As a result, Americans are warned to shy away from such regions of the globe. While you may not have the time (or interest for that matter) in following the news from around the world, it is important that you do check with U.S. officials before jetting or cruising off to some far away destination. Checking with the U.S. State Department and/or the local U.S. embassies in any countries you are thinking about visiting is always a good idea. The number one goal of any trip (along with having fun) is making sure you stay safe;

Getting the necessary time off – Whether you work or are retired, making sure you have the proper amount of time to get away is important. For example, a trip to Australia or some other far away destination really can’t be properly done in just a week’s time. You have to figure on losing a day’s time both coming and going due to air travel. With that in mind, always deduct two days from your travel and sightseeing schedule;

Adjusting to local foods etc. – It is also important that you have a general idea of the foods you may be eating while traveling abroad. The last thing you want happening is having some kind of food poisoning or other serious reaction to food or drink while far away from home. If you want to play it safer to the vest, there are typically American fast-food and restaurants available in many countries. When it comes to drinking will traveling the globe, be sure to turn to bottled water and avoid lots of ice in your drinks. You also want to avoid drinking tap water, even while in your hotel room. While you can’t 100 percent safeguard yourself from picking up something while away from home, limit those chances by safe sanitary measures.

If a trip or trips around the world are in your near future, make sure you map things out well in advance.

Doing so will increase the chances of making it a journey to remember.